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. 2025 Jun 20.
doi: 10.1007/s10072-025-08303-7. Online ahead of print.

The relationship between occupation and specific forms of idiopathic adult-onset dystonia

Vittorio Velucci  1 , Luigi Di Lorenzo  2 , Roberto Erro  3 , Ilaria Maria Di Somma  2 , Marcello Esposito  4 , Assunta Trinchillo  5   6 , Daniele Belvisi  7   8 , Giovanni Fabbrini  7   8 , Gina Ferrazzano  7 , Sarah Idrissi  9 , Roberta Pellicciari  9 , Laura Avanzino  10   11 , Francesca Di Biasio  11 , Carmen Terranova  12 , Vincenzo Rizzo  12 , Anna Castagna  13 , Marina Ramella  13 , Francesco Bono  14 , Maria Paola Barillari  14 , Maria Concetta Altavista  15 , Luigi Polidori  15 , Christian Lettieri  16 , Carlo Alberto Artusi  17 , Cesa Lorella Maria Scaglione  18 , Pierangelo Barbero  19 , Mario Coletti Moja  20 , Luca Magistrelli  21 , Martina Petracca  22 , Roberto Ceravolo  23 , Giovanni Cossu  24 , Tommaso Schirinzi  25 , Giovanna Maddalena Squintani  26 , Angelo Fabio Gigante  27 , Antonella Muroni  28 , Tommaso Ercoli  29 , Marcello Mario Mascia  28 , Alfredo Berardelli  7   8 , Giovanni Defazio  9   8
Affiliations

The relationship between occupation and specific forms of idiopathic adult-onset dystonia

Vittorio Velucci et al. Neurol Sci. .

Abstract

Background: The development of idiopathic adult-onset dystonia (IAOD) in different body parts is associated with specific demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as with specific risk factors.

Objective: To investigate whether specific occupations are associated with specific forms of IAOD at onset, namely blepharospasm (BSP), cervical dystonia (CD), and task-specific upper limb dystonia (TS-ULD).

Methods: Data from 905 IAOD patients enrolled in the Italian Dystonia Registry were analysed. Each patient was assigned to the corresponding occupational category by specialists in occupational medicine according to the classification of the Italian National Institute of Statistics. Logistic regression models (adjusted for sex, year of birth, Italian geographical areas, and age at dystonia onset) were computed to assess the association between occupation and specific dystonia at onset, using patients who developed focal dystonia in other body parts as controls.

Results: Compared to other occupations, trades workers exhibited an increased risk for BSP at onset (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.6-4.2), cleaners for CD (OR = 3.4, 95% CI 1.2-9.9), and musicians for TS-ULD (OR = 36.3, 95% CI 11.3-117.1). The longer the duration of employment before the onset of dystonia, the greater the risk of dystonia.

Conclusions: We provided novel information indicating that exposure to specific occupations may trigger specific forms of IAOD, namely BSP, CD, and TS-ULD. The associations highlighted by this study may reflect a common pathophysiological mechanism relying on the frequent performance of repetitive movements in a specific body part.

Keywords: Blepharospasm; Cervical dystonia; Idiopathic dystonia; Occupation; Upper limb dystonia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethical compliance statement: The local ethical review board (IRCSS Oncologico of Bari) approved the study (Protocol No. 596, October 24, 2023). The requirement for informed consent was waived because the study was register-based, and individuals were not identifiable at any time. The authors confirm that they have read the Journal’s position on issues involved in ethical publication and affirm that this work is consistent with those guidelines. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest relevant to this work. Financial disclosures: The authors declare that there are no additional disclosures to report.

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